System for creating a sealable tank partition

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for creating a sealable tank partition from wooden panels ( 1 ). Said system includes a rigid structure that consists of: a lower girdle ( 2 ) and an upper girdle ( 3 ) which are formed by profile elements ( 21 ) assembled with each other. Posts ( 4   a,    4   b ) are placed between said upper and lower girdles ( 2, 3 ). This rigid connection is provided by a device consisting of: a post ( 4   a,    4   b ), having two ends, at least one tenon ( 62   a,    62   b ) being located at each of the ends; at least one profile ( 21 ), having two ends ( 23 ), at least one mortise ( 61   a,    61   b ) being located at each of said ends ( 23 ), the mortises ( 61   a,    61   b ) of two adjacent profiles ( 21 ) being stacked on top of one another, and the tenons ( 62   a,    62   b ) being inserted into the stacked mortises ( 61   a,    61   b ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a system adapted for realizing a watertight partition wall of a pool as well as a method for installing a liquid retaining pool.

It concerns the technical field of pools constructed on-site.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, numerous types of pools are known. There are known, for example, pools made of concrete, from prefabricated panels or still wood-made ones.

Most of these pools are very complicated to implement. Furthermore, they are generally very expensive and have a limited service life over time.

Some documents have proposed partially overcoming these problems. Indeed, the document EP 1418293 (MAUPAS) proposes a system for assembling prefabricated panels to realize a partition wall of a swimming pool. The proposed system allows considerably reducing the costs and reducing the installation time. This system comprises a rigid structure resting on a support. It is composed of a bottom belt which supports the panels and is composed of profiles assembled together; and a top belt which is fastened on the upper portion of said panels and is composed of profiles assembled together. The structure also includes posts disposed between the bottom and top belts. Although the MAUPAS system constitutes an improvement of the already known systems, it still has drawbacks such as the lack of respect for the environment and the difficulty of implementation. The time necessary for the construction of the swimming pool increases the production cost for the end-user. Indeed, this system still requires the use of a rigidifying means such as concrete to allow keeping the structure in place. Furthermore, it is necessary to install a liner so that the system could be watertight. Besides generating additional costs as well as an increase of the installation time, these liners are barely aesthetic and/or barely environmentally friendly.

The patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,696 (SOBEL) and EP 2 460 950 (RP INDUSTRIES PISCINAS S.A.) also propose assembly systems allowing realizing a swimming pool. Nonetheless, the systems described in these documents are very complex and require the installation of a liner in order to ensure tightness of the swimming pool. Furthermore, the assembly parts presented in these documents do not enable the construction of swimming pools with various shapes which may adapt to all forms of terrains and/or gardens.

The invention aims to remedy to this state of things. In particular, the invention proposes a system allowing obtaining a long-lasting pool, which is self-sufficient and which does not require additional rigidifying means.

The invention also provides a system allowing a simplified, inexpensive and easy-to-mount construction.

The invention further provides a system allowing the construction of pools with modular shapes, therefore allowing adapting to the needs of the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The solution proposed by the invention is a system adapted to realize a watertight partition wall of a pool, from wood-made panels, this system comprising a rigid structure resting on a support and composed of a bottom belt which supports the panels, which bottom belt is composed of profiles assembled together, and a top belt fastened on the upper portion of said panels, which top belt is composed of profiles assembled together, posts being disposed between said bottom and top belts, said rigid structure being completed by sealing means of said partition wall.

This invention is noteworthy in that said posts are arranged between the two belts so as to ensure a rigid linkage between the two belts, each of said posts securing two juxtaposed profiles of the bottom belt therebetween and two juxtaposed profiles of the top belt therebetween, said rigid linkage being ensured by a device composed of:

-   -   a post, which comprises two ends, at least one tenon being         located at each of said ends,     -   at least one profile, which comprises two ends, at least one         mortise being located at each of these ends, said mortises of         two adjacent profiles overlapping, said tenons being inserted in         said overlapping mortises.

The rigid linkage achieved by the posts thus allows obtaining a structure which is self-sufficient and not requiring any additional rigidifying means. Furthermore, this structure allows the use of sealing means which are very easy to install. Indeed, unlike the liners which have to be set in the known systems, the means used in the invention do not have to conform to the pool.

Other advantageous features of the invention are listed hereinafter. Each of these features may be considered separately or in combination with the noteworthy features defined hereinabove, which noteworthy features are not mandatory as such to the resolution of the technical problems that the features hereinafter are intended to solve:

-   -   the sealing means may be in the form of at least one geotextile         fabric associated to at least one watertight fabric,     -   the profiles may have interlocking elements at each of their         ends, which interlocking elements of two adjacent profiles         cooperate so as to ensure an interlocking linkage of said         profiles,     -   the profiles and the posts may be wood-made,     -   the support may be constituted by joists placed parallel to each         other,     -   the tenons may have bores allowing introducing dowels so as to         rigidify the structure,     -   each profile of the bottom belt may be rectilinear and have at         least one U-shaped, or substantially U-shaped, cross-sectional         groove and in which the lower edge of the panels is engaged,         which groove is located on the front face and/or on the rear         face of said profile,     -   each profile of the top belt may be rectilinear and have at         least one U-shaped, or substantially U-shaped, cross-sectional         groove and in which the upper edge of the panels is engaged,         which groove is located on the front face and/or on the rear         face of said profile,     -   the ends of each profile may have bores allowing inserting         dowels which pass through the mortises and the tenons so as to         rigidify the structure,     -   each post may have notches located on their ends, which notches         are rectilinear and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said         post so as to guide the insertion of the panels.

Another aspect of the invention is an installation method of a liquid retaining pool using the system described hereinabove and comprising:

-   -   spreading at least one geotextile fabric in a hole dug in the         ground beforehand,     -   laying at least one watertight fabric over the geotextile         fabric,     -   installing the support,     -   installing the bottom belt on the support,     -   installing the posts on the bottom belt thanks to the assembly         means provided for this purpose,     -   sliding the panels in the grooves located on the bottom belt,     -   installing the top belt on the upper portion of the posts,     -   locking the system by inserting dowels in bores located on the         ends of the posts and on the ends of the profiles, which dowels         secure the two adjacent profiles and the post,     -   hooking the different fabrics at the top belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages and features of the invention will appear better upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings, provided as indicative and non-restrictive examples, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional representation of a pool using the system according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing partially the rigid structure used in the invention,

FIG. 3a is a perspective view showing the front face of a profile used in the invention,

FIG. 3b is a perspective view showing the rear face of the profile of FIG. 3 a,

FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing the front face of a profile used in the invention in one variant,

FIG. 4b is a perspective view showing the rear face of the profile of FIG. 4 a,

FIG. 5a is a perspective view showing the front face of a corner profile used in the invention,

FIG. 5b is a perspective view showing the rear face of the profile of FIG. 5 a,

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a post used in the invention,

FIG. 6b is a perspective view of a corner post used in the invention,

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate interlocking steps of two adjacent profiles,

FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate interlocking and locking steps of two adjacent profiles and a post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system of the invention is used to retain liquids and more particularly to realize a partition wall of a swimming pool, a pool or any other watering place. This partition wall may have various shapes such as for example a rectangle, a square, a circle, an oval, etc. The dimensions may range from a few meters to several tens of meters depending on the wishes of the user.

The system comprises sealing means on which a rigid structure is intended to rest. The sealing means are composed of several layers with different functions. In FIG. 1, once the hole 16 is dug in the ground according to the future dimensions of the pool, a geotextile fabric 51 is laid on the bottom 10 and on the lateral walls 11 a, 11 b of the hole 16. This fabric 51 allows avoiding subsequent annoyances which may occur, such as the growth of roots which may damage the rigid structure and/or the impermeable fabric layer 52. The geotextile fabric 51 may be cut so as to fit the dimensions of the pool, and its thickness may vary from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

The layer 52 confers impermeability to the system and avoids the risk of water leaking from the pool. Preferably, it is produced of rubber but may be made of any other watertight plastic material appropriate to those skilled in the art such as PVC or polyethylene. In the same manner as for the lower layer 51, it may be cut according to the desired dimensions, and has a thickness comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm. It is laid so as to cover the geotextile fabric 51 by matching the contour of the bottom 10 and of the lateral walls 11 a, 11 b of the hole 16.

In a preferred embodiment, a second geotextile fabric layer 53 may be laid so as to cover the layer 52. Besides protecting the watertight fabric 52 from the mechanical frictions of the structure, this second geotextile fabric 53 allows avoiding damaging said structure during the installation of the support 7 and of the rigid structure. It has the same properties as those mentioned before and is cut according to the width and the length of the pool in construction.

Once the different layers 51, 52, 53 are set in place, the support 7 on which is installed the bottom wall 8 of the pool should be realized. This support 7 is composed of joists, installed over the entire length and/or width of the pool. Depending on the size of the pool, the used joists may have a length varying from 1 m to 20 m. Their width and their thickness are comprised between 5 cm and 30 cm. They are set on the geotextile fabric 53 or on the watertight fabric 52, and are oriented parallel to each other. Depending on the dimensions of the pool, the support 7 may contain between 2 and 200 joists.

The joists 7 may be installed after the set-up of the rigid structure and before installing the bottom wall 8 of the pool. Preferably, the joists 7 serve as a support to the rigid structure. For example, the bottom wall 8 may be constituted by wood-made panels 1 having a thickness varying from 1 cm to 10 cm, their width and length being comprised between 150 cm and 400 cm. These panels 1 are similar to those which are used to realize the lateral walls of the pool. Preferably, they are wood-made but may be produced of a prefabricated material, of metal or still of a rigid plastic material.

In order to perfect the leveling of the pool, the support 7 may rest on studs adapted to allow adjusting the height of the joists on multiple positions of said pool.

In FIG. 2, the rigid structure to install on the support 7 is composed of a bottom belt 2 linked to a top belt 3 by posts 4 a, 4 b. The bottom belt 2 is fastened on the support 7 using simple assembly means such as wood-made dowels, nails or still screws. The posts 4 a, 4 b are spaced apart by a distance equivalent to the length of the profiles 21 or to the length of the panels 1. This distance may for example be comprised between 150 cm and 400 cm. FIGS. 6a and 6b represent posts 4 a, 4 b having tenons 62 a, 62 b at each of the ends thereof. The height of the post will depend on the depth of the post and may vary between 0.5 m and 6 m. Its width and its thickness may vary depending on the size of the swimming pool and the required support and are comprised between 2 cm and 20 cm.

In FIG. 6a , the upper portion of the post 4 a has notches 41 a which allow holding the posts 1 constituting the facade during their installation. Their presence also allows facilitating the positioning of said panels 1 during the mounting of the structure. During the installation of the panels 1, their lateral edges are inserted into the notches 41 a so as to be guided in position. The panels 1 are thus slid in the notches 41 a until they are in the final position necessary for the formation of the structure.

The notches 41 a are formed on the faces of the post 4 a which are disposed perpendicular to the plane of the belt 2. They allow positioning the panels 1 parallel to each other. The structure also includes corner posts 4 b represented in FIG. 6b and which allow positioning panels 1 perpendicular to each other. These posts 4 b are used to form the angles of the pool. In this embodiment, the notches 41 b are disposed on two opposite ridges of the post 4 b.

The bottom belt 2 is composed of profiles 21 drawn in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b . These profiles 21 are interlocked thanks to assembly means located on each of their ends 23 before being locked in position by the posts 4 a, 4 b.

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b show a rectilinear profile 21 and having a length varying from 150 cm to 400 cm. Its thickness and its width are equivalent to those of the posts 4 a, 4 b and vary between 2 cm and 20 cm.

In FIGS. 3a and 4a , each of the two faces 25, 26 has a longitudinal groove 22 adapted to accommodate the lower edge of the panels 1. The width of the groove 22 is comprised between 1 cm and 10 cm. It extends over the entire length of the profile 21 and is prolonged at both ends 23. Thus, the presence of the grooves 22 on the two faces 25, 26 allows using the same profiles 21 indifferently for the bottom belt 2 and for the top belt 3 and therefore considerably reducing the manufacturing costs.

Assembly means allow a half lap type assembly of adjacent profiles 21. For this purpose, the profile 21 represented in FIGS. 3a and 3b has a cut-out formed on the lower face 26 of the ends 23. This cut-out is carried out through half the thickness of the profile 21. It is carried out in the longitudinal axis of the profile 21. As apparent in FIG. 2, by alternating the direction of the profiles 21 during their assembly, said profiles may be aligned by interlocking of their ends 23, so as to form the bottom belt 2. The cut-out present at the end 23 of a profile 21 interlocks in the cut-out present at the end 23 of an adjacent profile 21. As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment allows assembling the bottom belt 2 in a simple manner. Indeed, the same shape of profiles 21 may be used to form the rectilinear portions and the corner portions of the structure of the pool. The profiles 21 may be installed at various angles.

FIGS. 4a and 4b represent another embodiment of a profile 21. The ends 23 have a tabled splice joint type assembly means known to those skilled in the art. This type of assembly allows enhancing the rigidity of the belt 2 so as to obtain a more solid final structure. The ends 23 are therefore cut so as to have a beveled shape. They have end pieces 28 which are preferably perpendicular to the axis of the formed bevels. As shown in FIG. 7a , these end pieces 28 have complementary shapes from one profile 21 to another so as to be able to be interlocked and form the bottom belt 2.

All profiles 21 have mortises 61 a, 61 b which are present on their ends 23 at the cut-outs or end pieces 28. During the assembly of two adjacent profiles 21, these mortises 61 a, 61 b overlap so as to enable introducing the tenon 62 a, 62 b of the post 4 a, 4 b. Therefore, the dimensions of the mortises 61 a, 61 b and of the tenons 62 a, 62 b are equivalent and have for example a thickness comprised between 0.5 cm and 5 cm, and a length varying between 2 cm and 20 cm.

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b show a mortise 61 a in alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profiles 21. This disposition allows aligning the profiles 21 with respect to each other. Once two profiles 21 are interlocked, the tenon 62 a is introduced in the mortises 61 a aligned with respect to each other thus blocking the profiles 21 in position. This operation is repeated for each combination of profiles 21 and posts 4 a, 4 b, until the bottom belt 2 is completed.

In FIG. 7b , a space 12 is left between two adjacent profiles 21 after having interlocked them. This space 12 is more particularly located between the end pieces 28 of two adjacent profiles 21. The next step illustrated in FIG. 8a comprises introducing the tenon 62 a in the mortises 61 a of the adjacent profiles 21. The tenon 62 a has advantageously a bore (not represented) which is aligned with the space 12 left by the profiles 21. As indicated in FIG. 8b , this alignment allows introducing a key 13 which allows blocking the assembly in position. Preferably, this key 13 is wood-made but may be produced of another rigid material appropriate to those skilled in the art such as a metal or a rigid plastic. Its size corresponds to the space 12 left by the two profiles 21. It has a length comprised between 2 cm and 20 cm, a width and a thickness varying from 1 cm to 6 cm.

Since the assembly means are located at the corners of the bottom belt 2 they should have a configuration slightly different from the above-described configuration. Indeed, in order to be aligned, the mortises 61 b will be disposed so as to form an angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile 21. FIGS. 2, 5 a and 5 b show an embodiment in which the angle α is equal to 45°. This angle allows aligning the mortises 61 b of the profiles 21 which are disposed at a right angle. The tenon 62 b of the corner post 4 b may thus be interlocked in these mortises 61 b. Nonetheless, the angle α may have any value comprised between 1° and 45°, thereby allowing disposing the profiles 21 in any position and thus forming pools with various contours.

When all posts 4 a, 4 b are installed and secure the bottom belt 2, the panels 1 are slid so as to have their lower edge which slides and/or is inserted in the grooves 22 of the profiles 21. The lateral edges of the panels 1 are inserted in the notches 41 a, 41 b present in the posts 4 a, 4 b.

Once the panels 1 are installed, the structure should be finished by installing the top belt 3. Said top belt is installed using assembly means similar to those used for the bottom belt 2. Indeed, it is constituted by profiles 21 identical to those described before. Therefore, the tenons 62 a, 62 b present on the upper portion of the posts 4 a, 4 b are inserted in the mortises 61 a, 61 b present in these profiles 21 in the same manner as described for the bottom belt 2. The upper edge of the panels 1 is slid and/or is inserted in the grooves 22 present on the faces 25, 26 of the profiles 21.

The profiles 21 of the top 3 and bottom 2 belts may have bores 29 on their ends 23 which will allow introducing dowels, preferably wood-made dowels but may be made of plastic or metal. These bores 29 will align with bores 30 provided in the tenons 62 a, 62 b so as to further improve the rigidity of the structure. The dowel is housed in this alignment of bores 29, 30 in order to secure the combination formed by the adjacent profiles 21 and the post 4 a, 4 b.

When the structure of the pool is realized, the geotextile fabric 51 and the watertight fabric 52 are refolded over the top belt 3 so as to achieve tightness. The upper edges of the two fabrics 51, 52 are therefore blocked thanks to a hooking means 31 located at the upper portion of the top belt 3. This hooking means 31 may be in several forms, such as for example a rail placed on the upper portion of the top belt 3 or on a brink fastened on the upper portion of the top belt 3 as indicated in FIG. 1. The fabrics 51, 52 may also be refolded over the top belt 3 before fastening the brinks which allow holding them in place.

In FIG. 1, after the installation of the pool, holding legs 14 may be installed so as to better stabilize the structure. These holding legs 14 have an end 15 a which is set on the ground of the hole 16 which is dug beforehand, and another end 15 b which is fastened to the top belt 3 thanks to fastening means such as glue, screws, or still nails. They are preferably located at each post 4 a, 4 b thereby allowing providing a support fixed to each of said posts 4 a, 4 b.

The arrangement of the different elements and/or means and/or steps of the invention, in the embodiments described hereinabove, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations. In any case, it will be understood that various modifications may be brought to these elements and/or means and/or steps, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. In particular:

-   -   the number of joists constituting the support 7 may vary,     -   the number of profiles 21 constituting the top 3 and bottom 2         belts vary according to the size of the pool,     -   there may be a second geotextile layer 53 between the watertight         fabric 51 and the rigid structure,     -   the shape of the assembly means of the posts 4 a, 4 b with the         belts 2, 3 may vary,     -   the dimensions of all the parts constituting the rigid structure         as well as the posts 1 vary according to the type of pool to         construct,     -   wood-made dowels may be added to the assembly means so as to         improve the rigidification of the structure,     -   the means for fastening the structure on the support 7 may be         various,     -   the hooking means used for fastening the layers 51, 52 to the         top belt 3 may be different from one pool to another,     -   the profiles 21 constituting the top belt 3 may, or may not, be         the same as the profiles used for the bottom belt 2. 

1. A system adapted to realize a watertight partition wall of a pool, from wood-made panels, this system comprising a rigid structure resting on a support and composed of a bottom belt which supports the wood-made panels, which bottom belt is composed of profiles assembled together, and a top belt fastened on an upper portion of said wood-made panels, which top belt is composed of profiles assembled together, posts being disposed between said bottom belt and said top belt, said rigid structure being completed by sealing layers for the sealing of said partition wall, wherein said posts are arranged between the bottom belt and the top belt so as to ensure a rigid linkage between the bottom belt and the top belt, each of said posts securing two juxtaposed profiles of the bottom belt to each other and two juxtaposed profiles of the top belt to each other, said rigid linkage being ensured by a device composed of: a post, which comprises two ends, at least one tenon being located at each of said ends, at least one profile, which comprises two ends, at least one mortise being located at each of these ends, said mortises of two adjacent profiles overlapping, said tenons being inserted in said overlapping mortises.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing layers comprise at least one geotextile fabric associated to at least one watertight fabric.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the profiles have interlocking elements at each of their ends, which interlocking elements of two adjacent profiles cooperate so as to ensure an interlocking linkage of said profiles.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the profiles and the posts are wood-made.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the support is constituted by joists placed parallel to each other.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tenons have bores allowing introducing dowels so as to rigidify the structure.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein each profile of the bottom belt is rectilinear and has at least one U-shaped cross-sectional groove inside which a lower edge of the panels is engaged, which groove is located on a front face and/or on a rear face of said profile.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein each profile of the top belt is rectilinear and has at least one U-shaped cross-sectional groove inside which an upper edge of the panels is engaged, which groove is located on a front face and/or on a rear face of said profile.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ends of each profile have bores allowing inserting dowels which pass through the mortises and the tenons so as to rigidify the structure.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each post has notches located on their ends, which notches are rectilinear and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said post so as to guide the insertion of the panels.
 11. A method for installing a liquid retaining pool using the system according to claim 1 and comprising: spreading at least one geotextile fabric in a hole dug in the ground beforehand, laying at least one watertight fabric over the geotextile fabric, installing the support, installing the bottom belt on the support, installing the posts on the bottom belt, sliding the panels in grooves located on the bottom belt, installing the top belt on an upper portion of the posts, locking the system by inserting dowels in bores located on the ends of the posts and on the ends of the profiles, which dowels secure the two adjacent profiles and the post, hooking the different fabrics at the top belt. 